Jamaica Braces for Catastrophic Damage as Hurricane Melissa Bears Down
Jamaica is bracing itself for what could be the most destructive hurricane to hit the island in history, with Category 5 storm Hurricane Melissa expected to make landfall on Tuesday morning. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned of "destructive winds" and "catastrophic flooding", which are forecast to worsen throughout the day and night.
Melissa, which intensified into a Category 5 storm on Monday, is packing winds of up to 157mph and is expected to bring heavy rainfall that could see portions of Jamaica receiving over 15 inches of rain. The slow-moving storm will also cause widespread flooding, landslides, and power outages, according to the NHC.
Residents have been told to take immediate action to protect themselves and their property, with authorities advising them to stock up on essentials and secure their homes with sandbags and boards. Small craft operators and fishermen are being advised to remain in safe harbour until wind and sea conditions return to normal.
The storm's impact will be felt across the Caribbean, with warnings already in place for parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and eastern Cuba. The Saffir-Simpson scale, which classifies storms based on their sustained wind speeds, has warned that Category 5 storms like Melissa can bring "catastrophic damage".
Jamaica's history is marked by devastating hurricanes, with Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 being the most destructive storm to hit the island. In recent years, Jamaica has experienced several close calls with powerful hurricanes, including a near-miss from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and a brushing from Category 5 storm Hurricane Beryl in 2024.
As the island prepares for what could be one of its worst natural disasters on record, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged residents to remain calm but prepared. "I know that there are many Jamaicans who are anxious, who are very concerned, and rightfully so," he said. "But the best way to address anxiety and any nervousness and concern is to be prepared."
The storm's path is expected to bring Melissa over Cuba on Wednesday before moving through the Greater Antilles and out into the Atlantic, where it is forecast to weaken to a Category 3 storm.
Jamaica is bracing itself for what could be the most destructive hurricane to hit the island in history, with Category 5 storm Hurricane Melissa expected to make landfall on Tuesday morning. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned of "destructive winds" and "catastrophic flooding", which are forecast to worsen throughout the day and night.
Melissa, which intensified into a Category 5 storm on Monday, is packing winds of up to 157mph and is expected to bring heavy rainfall that could see portions of Jamaica receiving over 15 inches of rain. The slow-moving storm will also cause widespread flooding, landslides, and power outages, according to the NHC.
Residents have been told to take immediate action to protect themselves and their property, with authorities advising them to stock up on essentials and secure their homes with sandbags and boards. Small craft operators and fishermen are being advised to remain in safe harbour until wind and sea conditions return to normal.
The storm's impact will be felt across the Caribbean, with warnings already in place for parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and eastern Cuba. The Saffir-Simpson scale, which classifies storms based on their sustained wind speeds, has warned that Category 5 storms like Melissa can bring "catastrophic damage".
Jamaica's history is marked by devastating hurricanes, with Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 being the most destructive storm to hit the island. In recent years, Jamaica has experienced several close calls with powerful hurricanes, including a near-miss from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and a brushing from Category 5 storm Hurricane Beryl in 2024.
As the island prepares for what could be one of its worst natural disasters on record, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged residents to remain calm but prepared. "I know that there are many Jamaicans who are anxious, who are very concerned, and rightfully so," he said. "But the best way to address anxiety and any nervousness and concern is to be prepared."
The storm's path is expected to bring Melissa over Cuba on Wednesday before moving through the Greater Antilles and out into the Atlantic, where it is forecast to weaken to a Category 3 storm.
Like, the island's already been through some bad stuff with hurricanes in the past, and now they're bracing themselves for this one... 157mph winds and all that heavy rain? It's crazy! 
I feel for the people over there, gotta stay safe and prepared. Prime Minister Holness is right, calm but prepared - can't let anxiety get the best of you 
. But seriously, hope everyone in Jamaica stays okay, this one's gonna be a tough ride 
oh man, this hurricane is gonna be bad 
but ya know what? I think we can get through this together 
. Jamaicans are always resilient and resourceful, and I'm sure they'll come out stronger on the other side 
. It's crazy to think that Hurricane Gilbert was even worse back in 1988 
️. And hey, at least we're getting some awesome rain and sunshine after this storm passes 
. Let's hope everyone stays safe and sound till then 
why do these storms always seem to hit when people are most vulnerable? 
. We're talking catastrophic damage here, and that's no joke 
. The slow-moving storm will just exacerbate the situation 
, and those 15 inches of rain are gonna cause some serious flooding 
. I mean, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and eastern Cuba are already on high alert 
, so it's clear this is a big deal 
. And with all these close calls recently, it's like they're just waiting for the other shoe to drop 
. But hey, at least the Prime Minister is urging everyone to stay calm but prepared 
...
and flooding is gonna be insane 
. i hope all the prep work pays off 'cause this one's lookin bad. remember when hurricane beryl hit in 2024? that was scary too 
. And let's be real, the Prime Minister's advice to stay calm but prepared is spot on 
. They'll get through this too, no worries 